Warning: smoking cannabis damages the lungs

Smoking cannabis even for only a short time damages the lungs of young people, researchers warned today.

Smokers, non-smokers and cannabis users were tested for lung function and their blood was also examined.

The researchers from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham found in their small pilot study that regular cannabis smokers had poorer lung function than those who just smoked cigarettes and even worse problems than those who did not smoke at all.

Even after less than six years of smoking the drug, the ill effects were already being seen on their breathing, according the research presented at the British Thoracic Society (BTS) winter meeting.

Dr Sarah Nuttall, a research fellow from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, said: "The consensus among many young people who use cannabis seems to be that they will not suffer any long-term effects as long as they stop smoking it early enough.

"However this is clearly not the case - our study shows that even short-term use of cannabis in addition to tobacco use does have an impact and makes a serious difference to lung function."

Dr John Harvey, chairman of the BTS communications committee, said: "It is vital that young people understand the dangers of both cigarette and cannabis smoking since these habits can start having a serious impact on their lungs at an early stage."

Meanwhile, bakers are at an increased risk of developing asthma and other breathing problems, according to research presented at the BTS meeting today.

Researchers from the Health and Safety Laboratory in Sheffield said that those who were exposed to flour complained of a variety of breathing difficulties.

Almost half of the 113 bakers they studied (49 per cent) reported suffering breathing related problems - 27 per cent said they had nasal irritation, 16 per cent had chest tightness and 10 per cent had coughs and wheezes.

Dr Andrew Curran of the Health and Safety Laboratory commented: "Occupational asthma remains a significant problem in the baking industry - at least 80 new cases are reported each year in the UK.

"The new research has shown that coughing is a common symptom that can start shortly after bakers begin working in the industry. Other symptoms take longer to develop."